West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-04-28
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
BUSINESS RETARDED BY THE
WEATHER
New Enterprises Create nn Active
Demand for Money-Natural
Gas Developments I'm Ohio.


r. q. Dun & Co.'S weekly review OF trade
ssys:--Unusual weather hin1ers trade Ex-
tensivo show storms late in April, with
strips and patches OF snow lstln on
the ground at this dato around
New York, account for mot q little
embarrassment In various branches OF bust
ness. ltisa compsnsating fact taat the long
drought at the West is broken. and copious
rains help crop prospects. But the outlook In
dry goods is especially q n scted by unseason-
able weather, which adds 70 apparent de-
preston caused by unwonted purchases OF
stock last month in order 70 anticipate
changes OF rates The market for WOO ems
drags and Is unsatisfactory, and while cotton
staples are firm, print cIoths arc weaker.
Raw cotton does not advance, though re-
cepts have been small aud wool has been
weak, though hope is expressed the. the bit
tom has been touched.
Iron is dull at Philadelphia, with prices Of
some grades marked down there and at Pitts,
ourgh bar is lower, aud the entire market
teverish, with symptoms Of weakness. Wheat
Is held by reported corner, but has scarcely
advanced n shade; pork products are a little
weaker and oil is dull. Coffee has beeu sud,
denly advanced a cent by speculative meth.
DDS Leather is in better demand, boot and
shoe orders nave been dec dedly improved.
The rubber market is excited. Socks have
turned downward, with an average decline
for the week of half dollar PER share.
For much OF tho embarrassment. the
changes in rail rates under the Interstate &C
are responsible. Mlny think, as the commits.
sion apparently does, that tho railroads have
made the law an excuse for unnecessary nd,
vance In rates, but the broad fact rem,ins
that great part Of the business OF the co IN.
try has been built up under a system of
special rates to encourage especial localit q,
or trades The chief intent OF the act Is to
prohibit such special favors. Al inevitable
result is that the in lustrles and business of
a great number Of pl ices are disturbei.
Foreign and interior trade continue fairly
active, Exports from New York show on
increase of IL per cent. over last year. but
are declining, against an increase OF ~ per
cent in imports, with an advancing tendency.
AT some Southern points business is so dull
that country merch Ints in unusual number
are asking extensions, but collections geDer.
ally are fairly prompt.
EXTENSIVE NEW ENTERPRISES
Money would be everywhere abundant but
for extraordinary demands in rsu estate
speculation and building. At Nsw York
alone plans fled in three moaths cal for an
expenditure of s22, 50J,COl in building, aud
morgl ges amount 70 S3J, G0JtOO for the
quarter. AT the same rate throu ghous the
country, new mortgages would aggregate
s2,O)OO0O.0 o, and new build ng, would cost
Sl,4DOOO0,O20 A Chicago jpurnal reports
sl,3i7 miles OF new railway building propos-
cd for the year, aud 1885 miles of track TO
I've relaid, which would cost over 5000. OCO. OO).
With such demands IL Is not strange that any
disturbance in the usual trade aud productive
industry Of the country is felt
The business failures ducing the last seven
days number for tbs United States III and
for Canada %, against total OF 175 last
week and 1914 for tho corrsspon ling week OF
last year.
The Iron Trade Reriew pUbehes statistics
showing that during the past sixteen months
1872 natural gas and oil companies have been
Incorporated in Oaio, with an sgzregl ted
capital stock of S0,263,o75. Applications for
new charters are at present com nz into the
Secretary OF States Office at the rate Of two
Or three a day.